United Nigeria Set To Commence Cargo Operations At Ekiti Airport
United Nigeria Airlines says it will commence cargo operations at Ekiti Airport in January.
Chief Obiora Okonkwo, the Executive Chairman of said this during the inauguration of Reeve Energy Limited aviation fuel tank farm facility at the airport on Monday.
Okonkwo said the airline would introduce daily passenger flights to the state soon after.
He said UNA businesses could begin moving goods from Ekiti to other parts of Nigeria and to international destinations such as London.
He said UNA would be the first to carry commercial cargo once the state was ready adding that there would also be daily flights in and out of Ekiti.
Okonkwo said United Nigeria was the second-largest consumer of aviation fuel in Nigeria, after Air Peace, adding that it would benefit the new fuel facility as steady supply of fuel would serve the airline’s growing operations at the airport.
Okonkwo said that the airline had not applied for or lobbied for the partnership, and that it had not paid any bribe.
He said state government conducted its own due diligence, compared the airline with others in Nigeria, and approached it because of its fleet and operations.
He also said the airline had accepted reduced passenger loads, carrying 40 passengers rather than 50 on some flights during a period of low demand.
“This sacrifice was made out of trust in the partnership and the government’s commitment.
“We did not apply for this partnership, but if the government did their due diligence, found us worthy and capable of serving them, and approached us, I would be very touched.
“You have mentioned cargo agriculture, let me promise you, his excellency, for your own sake, I am going to make sure that by January next year, we activate a cargo section of our flights, so that we can work out a deal.
“As soon as you are ready to start exporting cargo from here, whether it is to other parts of Nigeria, it does not have to be to London, but besides that, by that time, we’ll be flying to any part of the world.
“But if you have cargo by January we will be the first to lift your commercial cargo,” he said.
Gov. Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti who presided over the event, pledged further government support for the airport and for private investors.
Oyebanji said the state is working to complete an airport upgrade by the end of the year, including an Instrument Landing System (ILS) upgrade that has been certified and an aerodrome ground lighting project costing more than N10 billion.
He said when completed the airport would be able to operate around the clock and allow aircraft to land at any time.
“He said the state is also pursuing an independent power producer (IPP) for the airport so that it can generate its own electricity.
The governor commended Reeve Energy Nigeria Limited for investing in the state and assured investors of continued government support.
“By the time we complete the upgrade of the ILS that has been certified, then what we are doing now is what they call in aviation the Aerodrome Ground Lightning.
“That is what we are doing now, that project is costing us more than N10 billion so, by the time we finish that, at least we will be able to have 24 hours operation at the airport, this means aircraft can land at any time.
“We are also working on getting an IPP for this airport, we cannot be wasting time on that so once we have an IPP here then the airport will be self-sufficient when it comes to electricity,” he said.
